The Maldives Hajj Corporation is making final preparations to welcome the Maldivian Hajj pilgrims to Makkah for the sacred pilgrimage this year.
All Maldivian pilgrims undertaking the sacred journey of Hajj this year will reside at the Al Balad At Tayyib Ajiyad Hotel in Makkah, a dedicated facility exclusively reserved for pilgrims from the Maldives.
The hotel spans twelve floors and comprises 355 rooms, serving as the primary accommodation base for Maldivian pilgrims under the country's 1,000 quota. This strategic arrangement ensures that all necessary services and facilities are centralised in one location, providing convenience and comfort to pilgrims throughout their spiritual journey.
The hotel offers an extensive range of facilities designed to meet the diverse needs of pilgrims. These include the Hajj Corporation Office and the Office of the Hajj Mission, ensuring seamless administrative support. A help desk provides assistance around the clock, while a quality clinic stands ready to address any health concerns. For religious and communal activities, the hotel features a mosque and a conference hall. Additionally, pilgrims can access three restaurants for catering, a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, a cafe, and convenient buggy service for transportation within the hotel premises.
Hajj Corporation Head of Marketing and Public Relations Abdulla Muaz emphasised the corporation’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every pilgrim receives comprehensive care and support. He said that Hajj Corporation employees are working to finalise all necessary arrangements for each pilgrim.
Under the guidance of the Managing Director of the Hajj Corporation, significant improvements have been implemented at the hotel in collaboration with the property owner following last Ramadan Umrah. Muaz confirmed that almost all preparatory work has been completed, with particular attention given to replacing carpets throughout all guest rooms.
Current preparations at the hotel are in their final stages, with disinfection, cleaning, and refurbishment underway across all rooms. Each room has been equipped with essential amenities including a wardrobe, refrigerator, television, water dispenser, and hot water facilities in the bathrooms. Room names have been affixed to facilitate organised distribution among pilgrims, while informative signage has been installed near elevators to provide crucial guidance. The clinic has been fully equipped and verified to meet specified standards, and cooking arrangements have been finalised. The fleet of buggies has been expanded to ensure reliable transportation services for pilgrims.
A critical safety measure has been completed with the labeling of Nusuk cards, which every pilgrim must wear around their neck at all times for identification and security purposes. In response to lessons learned from previous years, the Mutawwif Rawaf of Makkah is coordinating with Mina authorities to implement improvements in the arrangements at Mina and Arafat. The Arafat grounds represent the most essential component of the pilgrimage, and on the day of Hajj, all pilgrims will reside in tented accommodations in Arafat. Final preparations are currently underway to ensure these critical arrangements meet all required standards.
The Maldives Hajj Mission has conducted a comprehensive inspection of the hotel's latest preparations, confirming that all systems are in place for pilgrims to begin arriving in Makkah on Friday. The Hajj Mission, headquartered at the Al Balad Attayib Ajiyad Hotel, is ensuring that all arrangements adhere to Saudi Arabian standards while addressing the specific needs of Maldivian pilgrims. The mission team has thoroughly examined hotel services, room preparations, accommodation facilities, catering arrangements, and the health clinic. Religious sessions are also scheduled to be conducted at the hotel, providing pilgrims with opportunities for spiritual guidance and reflection throughout their stay.